Q: What are adobe bricks made of?

A: While many types of soil can attain the strength and durability
required, the most workable/mold-able raw material is a mix of about 75%
sand with about 25% clay for bricks, mortars & plasters. The use of cement as a stabilizer dramatically improves the structural
performance as well as the wall surface durability.

The cost of stabilizing the mix above is usually about 1% of the
cost of a new structure and stabilization will allow the walls to endure centuries of exposure to weather, thus not requiring the building to
be rebuilt for generations. We assert that this is sound logic with
regards to environmental impact, with the long range being of equal
concern to the short range.

Q: What are the benefits of building with adobe?

A:Conservation: There is no other material or method
more sustainable for building one's home other than earth. It has the
lowest embodied energy and is the most renewable. Adobes utilize
abundant, non-polluting and non-toxic material, earth, while conserving
limited resources (water, top soil, trees, energy, etc). Best of all,
its totally recyclable; after all, it's just earth! And when Arizona Adobe Company makes adobes on site, further energy is saved in
transportation and pollution.

Energy Efficient: Thermal Mass is an important
part of an energy efficient building and is often left out of modern
day construction projects. Thermal Mass allows a building to store or
share excess heat as needed, thereby averaging out temperature
extremes. Coupled with passive solar design and orientation, an adobe home will provide energy savings one can bank on!

Durability: Over one third of the world’s
population lives in an earthen structure and the oldest buildings in
the world are all of earthen materials and methods. The reason is - it
works!

Affordable: Adobes are the lowest cost
alternative for durable, energy-efficient structures. By slashing labor
and material costs, our blocks can be produced and laid in place for
much less than the competing alternatives; providing up-front
construction savings as well as energy-savings over the life of the
home.

Beautiful: Adobe buildings can be made to
look like any kind of finished structure, however, most people who opt
for this type of construction find they love the look of the block
itself and the adobe look of a finish plaster. Exteriors typically are
given a weather-resistant skin that can be colored or left natural and
interiors are plastered with a variety of mixtures or left exposed.

Fire, Pest and Mold Resistant: Adobes are
fire, sound and bug resistant. Earthen walls do not burn, they are
dense and solid to discourage insects, and they “breathe” easily so
they are mold resistant and promote healthy indoor air-quality.

Acoustic: Looking for quiet home? Adobe homes
offer excellent acoustic properties. Earthen homes both diffuse sound
reflection and effectively block sound form the outside or from room to room. Adobe homes will produce a tranquil internal environment
quiet from the world outside, an often over-looked value.

Q: Will adobe brick walls wash away in the rain?

A: No. A well-designed mix resists degradation and will remain durable for
centuries. At any point, the building can be plastered to further
enhance durability.

Q: What kind of roof goes on a adobe brick house?

A: You can have any type or style of roof construction for your earthen home.

Q: Is adobe building slow?

A: No. The adobe brick walls of an average size home at around 2000 square
feet (or 185 square meters) can be constructed within one month by a
skilled 3-person team. A crew of 3 able bodies can produce around 600
bricks in a given 8-hour day. This same crew can lay approximately 250 bricks into a wall per day. This same house with a simple floor plan
would use around 3600 adobe bricks.

Q: What are Earth Plasters?

A: Earth plasters (also known as natural clay plasters) are a blend of
pure clays and aggregates with coloring agents that come from natural, non-toxic oxides and ochre mineral pigments. Earth plasters create
stunning moods of their own; and they provide a beautiful backdrop for
art or wall hangings as well.

Q: What are the benefits of Earth Plasters/Natural Clay Plasters?

A: Natural clay plasters are organic and environmentally friendly in both
their production and application - they have a low embodied content and
are safe to use when applying in their completed form. They are
extremely energy efficient and help control humidity and temperature
fluctuations - keeping you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They are also non-dusting, mold and fade resistant and easily repairable.

ARIZONA ADOBE COMPANY

928-254-0764

ARIZONA ADOBE COMPANY is an adobe brick producer,
specializing in earthen-based
methods and materials. We supply the best adobe bricks and provide the
best service in the industry. We have a strong knowledge of earthen
building, a history of environmental stewardship and a dedication to
building sustainable
communities. Arizona
Adobe Company is based in Cordes Junction, Arizona, and Tucson, Arizona,
and
enjoys working throughout the Southwestern United States. Our goal is to
provide affordable, beautiful
and sustainable adobes made of the world's most
energy efficient and durable material - earth. Arizona Adobe Company
supplies puddle, sun-dried adobe bricks as well as compressed earth
blocks (CEBs). Please allow us to help you on your next project, we look
forward to working with you soon.